Calcium Carbonate: when is it an advantage?

Use of CaCO3 does not result in cost reduction without sacrificing quality and damage to process equipment

In PVC products, CaCO3 is added for two reasons: to reduce the cost and to provide functional properties. Viscosity of PVC compound is important from a processing point of view. It increases with the addition of filler because CaCO3 does not melt during processing. From a product application perspective, elastic modulus is a function of particle shape, while impact strength is a function of particle size and compressive strength is a function of quantity of filler.

Then why there is a tendency among the manufacturers to add more filler? This is because they think this reduces the cost and improves profit.

The question is to what extent, in reality, is the cost reduced with regard to expectations, following use of CaCO3?

For this, we must consider both visible and invisible costs. As the calcium carbonate level increases, the specific gravity of the compound also increases, the volume reduces and hence relative cost savings are also reduced. Processors wrongly calculate cost reduction on the basis of weight. It should be calculated on the basis of volume.